Tigers have conference win-streak snapped in doubleheader split at Neosho

Neosho took the suspense out of game one early by scoring nine runs in the second inning and went on to the five-inning win.

Lars Koester hit one of the Panthers' four home runs in the second inning, a grand slam, which chased Cowley starting pitcher Grady Hoke (4-3) from the game.

Cowley designated hitter Holden Groebl went 3-for-3, but the rest of the Tigers managed only one-hit in the loss.

Neosho's Casey Clemenson earned the win, allowing four hits and no earned runs in five innings.

Game two was tied at 3-3 after six innings of play before Cowley erupted for 14 runs over the final three innings.

Quinn Groebl hit a two-run single in a six-run seventh inning to break the tie and added his seventh home run of the season in a six-run ninth inning.

Sophomore centerfielder Drake Fittro homered twice and drove in five as he finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Fittro leads Cowley with a batting average of .425 to go along with 14 home runs and 50 runs batted in.

Freshman shortstop Josiah Sems went 4-for-4 with a home run and four runs scored. Sems has homered in three of his past four games and has six round-trippers on the season.

Fellow freshman Easton Green went 3-for-5 and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Green is now batting .357 on the season.

Chance Acord (3-3), the first of six Cowley pitchers in game two, gave the Tigers a solid start, allowing four hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Five Tiger relievers combined to allow only three hits and one run, while striking out seven and walking one.

Cowley will return home to play a single, nine-inning game vs. Barton Community College (27-15) at 2 p.m.

Score by inning:

Game one              R H E

Cowley 0 0 1 0 0 – 1 4 0-

Neosho 0 9 0 0 2 – 11 12 3

Game two                           R H E

Cowley 0 0 0 3 0 0 6 2 6 – 17 18 0

Neosho 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 – 4 7 4